Serving assembly

ABSTRACT

A serving assembly comprises a plurality of serving bowls, and an associated bowl holder for releasably retaining the serving bowls, so that the serving bowls and bowl holder can be conveniently handled as an integrated unit. The bowl holder includes a central handle portion, and a plurality of support portions extending outwardly from the handle portion, with the support portions configured to respectively receive the plurality of serving bowls. The bowl holder is provided with a plurality of retention elements which respectively engage the serving bowls so that each bowl is securely, yet releasably, retained by the bowl holder. Convenient, simultaneous serving of different food items or the like is thus facilitated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to household products for serving food and the like, and more particularly to a serving assembly comprising a bowl holder, and a plurality of serving bowls which can be releasably retained on the bowl holder, so that the holder and bowls can be conveniently handled, as an integrated unit, for serving food and the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Serving trays, bowls, and like articles facilitate convenient serving of food and the like in the home. In some instances, it is desirable to serve certain foods together, such as snack chips and dips, condiments, associated snacks, etc. At those times, it can be convenient to use serving pieces which permit the different food items to be served with each other.

At the same time, it is desirable that household serving pieces be configured to facilitate efficient manufacture, as well as efficient storage and shipment, enhancing affordable use by consumers. The present invention is directed to a serving assembly configured for economical manufacture and use, and convenient serving of one or more food items simultaneously.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A serving assembly embodying the principles of the present invention comprises a plurality of serving bowls, each of which has a base portion, and an upstanding sidewall extending upwardly from the base portion, and terminating in a rim portion. The present serving assembly further includes a bowl holder for releasably retaining the serving bowls, with the holder configured to conveniently hold all of the serving bowls at the same time so that the bowls can be simultaneously carried. In this way, the present serving assembly facilitates serving one or more food items from the serving bowls at the same time.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the bowl holder includes a central handle portion, and a plurality of support portions extending outwardly from the handle portion. The support portions are configured to respectively receive the plurality of serving bowls. Notably, the handle portion of the bowl holder has a plurality of retention elements respectively operatively associated with the plurality of support portions. Each of the retention elements is engageable with the rim portion of a respective one of the serving bowls when the serving bowls are respectively positioned on the support portions of the bowl holder. The serving bowls are thus securely, yet releasably retained on the bowl holder so that all of the serving bowls can be conveniently handled at the same time.

Stable retention of the serving bowls on the bowl holder is facilitated by configuring each of the support portions of the bowl holder to include an upturned free edge which is generally complementary to the base portion of each of the serving bowls. By this construction, each serving bowl is releasably retained on the bowl holder by: (1) disposition of the base portion of each serving bowl within the free edge of the respective one of the support portions; and (2) the engagement of the rim portion of the bowl with the respective one of the retention elements.

In the preferred embodiment, the handle portion of the bowl holder has a generally downwardly, outwardly tapering configuration, and is configured for nested stacking with another one of the bowl holders. By this preferred configuration, plural serving assemblies, each comprising a bowl holder and a plurality of serving bowls, can be conveniently stacked, such as for storage and shipment of plural serving assemblies.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a serving assembly embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the present serving assembly;

FIG. 3 a bottom perspective view of the present serving assembly;

FIG. 4 is a further side-elevational view of the present serving assembly;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the present serving assembly;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the present serving assembly; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing plural serving assemblies in a nested, stacked configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

With reference now to the drawings, therein is illustrated a serving assembly 10 embodying the principles of the present invention. As will be further described, serving assembly 10, which can be readily formed such as by injection molding of suitable polymeric material, comprises a plurality of serving bowls, three in the illustrated embodiment, and an associated bowl holder which is configured to releasably retain each of the serving bowls. By this arrangement, the bowl holder and serving bowls can be conveniently grasped as an integrated unit to facilitate simultaneously carrying the bowls, such as for serving food or the like from the bowls.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the serving assembly 10 includes a plurality of serving bowls 12, which in the illustrated embodiment are of substantially identical, round configuration. Each of the serving bowls 12 has a circular base portion 14, and an upstanding side wall 16 extending upwardly from the base portion 14, and terminating in a rim portion 18. Serving bowls 12 can be provided with suitable exterior ornamentation, such as the illustrated generally vertical ribbing.

The present serving assembly 10 further includes a bowl holder 20 for releasably retaining the plurality of serving bowls 12. The bowl holder 20 has a generally downwardly outwardly tapering configuration, including a plurality at panels 22, and a like plurality of support portions 24 which respectively extend outwardly from the panels 22. Each of the support portions 24 is configured to respectively receive one of the serving bowls 12. To this end, as shown in FIG. 5, each of the support portions has an upturned free edge 26 complementary to the base portion 14 of each of the serving bowls 12. Struts 27 respectively extend between adjacent ones of the support portions 24 to enhance the integrity and stability of the holder 20.

Secure and stable, yet releasable retention of the each of the serving bowls 12 on the bowl holder 20 is facilitated by the provision of a plurality of retention elements 28 which are each engageable with the rim portion 18 of a respective one of the serving bowls 12 when the serving bowls are respectively positioned on the support portions of the bowl holder. As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the retention elements 28 has a generally downwardly open configuration for releasably engaging the rim portion 18 of the respective one of the serving bowls 12.

As will be appreciated, the specific configuration of the present serving assembly, including the bowl holder and serving bowls, can be readily varied, depending upon the number of serving bowls which are desired to be provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the serving assembly includes three of the serving bowls 12, with the bowl holder 20 having three of the panels 22 arranged in evenly spaced apart relationship. The plurality of retention elements 28 are respectively positioned on each of the panels 22, such that each retention element is engageable with the rim portion of a respective one of the serving bowls 12.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiment is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims 

1. A serving assembly, comprising: a plurality of serving bowls, each of said serving bowls having a base portion, and an upstanding sidewall extending upwardly from said base portion and terminating in a rim portion; and a bowl holder for releasably retaining said plurality of bowls, said bowl holder comprising a central handle portion, and a plurality of support portions extending outwardly from said handle portion, said support portions being configured to respectively receive said plurality of bowl, to facilitate simultaneously carrying said bowls with said bowl holder for serving food or the like from said bowls.
 2. A serving assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said handle portion of said bowl holder has a plurality retention elements respectively operatively associated with said plurality of support portions, each of said retention elements being engageable with the rim portion of a respective one of said serving bowls when said serving bowls are respectively positioned on the support portions of said bowl holder.
 3. A serving assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein each said retention elements has a generally downwardly open configuration for releasably engaging the rim portion of the respective one of said serving bowls.
 4. A serving assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of said support portions of said bowl holder has an upturned free edge which is generally complementary to the base portion of each of said serving bowls, each of said serving bowls being releasably retained on said bowl holder by: (1) disposition of the base portion of each serving bowl within the free edge of the respective one of said support portions; and (2) the engagement of the rim portion of the bowl with the respective one of said retention elements.
 5. A serving assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said handle portion of said bowl holder has a generally downwardly, outwardly tapering configuration, including a plurality of panels from which said support portions respectively extend, each side edge of each of said panels being spaced from a side edge of an adjacent one of said panels to define openings in said handle to facilitate grasping of said handle portion.
 6. A serving assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein said bowl holder includes three of said panels arranged in evenly spaced apart relationship, said bowl holder having a plurality of retention elements respectively positioned on said panels, each of said retention elements being engageable with the rim portion of a respective one of said serving bowls when said serving bowls are respectively positioned on the support portions of said bowl holder.
 7. A serving assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bowl holder is configured for nested stacking with another one of said bowl holders, so that plural serving assemblies can be stacked.
 8. A serving assembly, comprising: a plurality of serving bowls, each of said serving bowls having a base portion, and an upstanding sidewall extending upwardly from said base portion and terminating in a rim portion; and a bowl holder for releasably retaining said plurality of bowls, said bowl holder comprising a central handle portion, and a plurality of support portions extending outwardly from said handle portion, said support portions being configured to respectively receive said plurality of bowl, to facilitate simultaneously carrying said bowls with said bowl holder for serving food or the like from said bowls, said handle portion of said bowl holder having a plurality retention elements respectively operatively associated with said plurality of support portions, each of said retention elements being engageable with the rim portion of a respective one of said serving bowls when said serving bowls are respectively positioned on the support portions of said bowl holder, each of said support portions of said bowl holder having an upturned free edge which is generally complementary to the base portion of each of said serving bowls, each of said serving bowls being releasably retained on said bowl holder by: (1) disposition of the base portion of each serving bowl within the free edge of the respective one of said support portions; and (2) the engagement of the rim portion of the bowl with the respective one of said retention elements.
 9. A serving assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said handle portion of said bowl holder has a generally downwardly, outwardly tapering configuration, including a plurality of panels from which said support portions respectively extend, each side edge of each of said panels being spaced from a side edge of an adjacent one of said panels to define openings in said handle to facilitate grasping of said handle portion.
 10. A serving assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bowl holder includes a plurality of struts respectively extending between adjacent ones of said support portions to enhance the integrity of the bowl holder. 